The race to book a ticket to the 2026 FIFA World Cup continues across South America during the March international period, with world champions Argentina leading the pack as things stand. La Albiceleste are currently top of the CONMEBOL qualifying table and can secure a berth at next summer's tournament should they sit 13 points ahead of seventh place after meetings with Uruguay and Brazil.

Lionel Messi will not join the Argentine national team for two World Cup qualifying matches in the next week. Here's the latest on Messi.

Lionel Messi will miss Argentina's World Cup qualifiers against Uruguay and Brazil over the next eight days because of an injury to his adductor. The 37-year-old Messi was not included in the 25-man squad announced on Monday by coach Lionel Scaloni.